Gillard to get tough in asylum rethink

Human rights lawyer Julian Burnside QC says for every one asylum seeker there are 20 new permanent immigrants to Australia.

Vivek Prakash: Reuters

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is expected to take a tougher approach to border protection when she announces her policy on asylum seekers this week.

Cabinet will today discuss the future of Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have been left in limbo since May, when the Government suspended processing of their refugee claims. The measure expires on Thursday.

So far this year 75 boats carrying asylum seekers have arrived in Australian waters, and the issue is the next item on Ms Gillard's list as she continues to clear the decks ahead of a federal election.

Ms Gillard signalled a break from Kevin Rudd's asylum seeker policy yesterday, when she said "political correctness" should not be allowed to hinder debate about the issue.

Ms Gillard said people who were anxious about border security should not be labelled racist.

"I'd like to sweep away any sense that people should close down any debate, including this debate, through a sense of self-censorship or political correctness," she said.

"People should feel free to say what they feel. For people to say they're anxious about border security doesn't make them intolerant. It certainly doesn't make them a racist - it means they're expressing a genuine view."

Ms Gillard also says the label "soft" should not be levelled at those who voice concerns about the treatment of detainees.

"People who express concern about children being in detention, that doesn't mean they're soft on border protection - it just means they're expressing a real human concern," she said.

The issue of border protection is difficult for Labor because polls show many voters want a tougher system, but that could alienate left-leaning Labor voters.

Earlier on Sunday, Education Minister Simon Crean indicated the Government's new policy would include working more closely with neighbouring countries.

But Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the Government's only solution was to adopt the Coalition's policies of turning boats away, processing asylum seekers offshore, and bringing back temporary protection visas.

"In just 10 weeks we've had another 31 boats [arrive] - more than 1,500 people," he said.

"That's more than three boats a week. Under the Howard government there were three boats a year."

'Low road'

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the indications that Ms Gillard will harden the Government's stance on asylum seekers is disappointing.

"Julia Gillard is sending signals ... that she's prepared to chase Tony Abbott down that low road of Howard-style politics where children were detained behind bars ... and where vulnerable people were demonised," she said.